Russo wins his 100th game, but has Rahway focused on task at hand after 2-0 start

Last year’s Rahway team started the year 3-1, but never won another game en route to a rare three-win season for the Indians.

This year, two big numbers came out of their 34-7 home win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood Friday night: 2 and 100.

The win made the Indians 2-0 for the second time in three years. It was also No. 100 in the coaching career of Brian Russo, now in his tenth season at Rahway.

A Woodbridge alum who also coached there for nine seasons from 2003 to 2011, going 48-45, Russo is 52-37 at Rahway.

But none of those numbers, nor the 100, are important to him.

Even the 2-0 isn’t important. The number that matters is the number 1. As in, Rahway plays “one” game this week, and their job is to win it.

The last time they started 2-0 was in 2022. They went 2-5 the rest of the way to finish 4-5.

So, he is keenly focused on making sure his young team – which travels to Waters Stadium in Perth Amboy Friday night to face the 1-1 Panthers – is locked in on the task at hand.

Offensively, thus far, Rahway has been led by sophomore quarterback Jaquan Robinson, who’s thrown for 256 yards and four touchdowns through two games. And junior runningback Andrew Avent has rushed for 270 yards and give scores.

Defensively, Avent – a linebacker – lead the team in tackles with 20, plus a forced fumble and a recovery for a touchdown, while sophomore linebacker Jyvon Cooper has a team-best 13 solo tackles, plus a sack and 3 TFLs, as well as a fumble recovery.

Click below to hear Rahway head coach Brian Russo with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: